Amputee Golfers Overcome Disabilities in Tournament
MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Powerful and inspirational stories are coming from the fairway, as dozens of amputee golfers meet in Milledgeville this weekend to play in a tournament.
“March 27, 2007, an 18 wheeler pulled out in front of me. I was a burn victim and I’m a right above the knee amputee,” amputee golfer Justin Scurry said. “I have orthopedic problems with my left leg and I am amputated on my right fingers a little bit.”
But that is not stopping Scurry from hitting the green during the 20th Georgia Amputee Golf Tournament at the Milledgeville Country Club. Golfers of all ages from across the southeast meet once a year to play with their fellow amputees.
“You get to see other people with prosthetics and stuff and you realize you’re not the only one with a prosthetic,” 12-year-old amputee golfer Adam Kiel said.
Tournament coordinator Bill Eason calls it an amazing sight to see as these golfers overcome their disabilities to play the sport they love.
“Losing an arm or a leg is not the end of the world and these individuals can certainly attest to to that,” Eason said. “They started just like everybody else and they’ve come around and they’ve conquered it.”
Ford Burttram became a paraplegic when he was 16. Now years later, he is the creator of the adaptive program at the University of Alabama. He teaches fellow disabled golf lovers how to play the sport when many would just give up.
“Being out here on the golf course is very independent and you rely on yourself and your self reliance,” Burttram said. “Its really important to have people with disabilities be self reliant.”
All though their techniques may be different, each golfer has one thing in common.
“We’ve all been through some traumatic thing in our life, but look at us now, we’re back on top again,” Scurry said.
And it is that winning attitude that keeps these players swinging, one hole at a time.
The Georgia Amputee Golf Tournament is held in memory of Ray Rice, the founder of the tournament who was an avid disabled golfer. It is also a fundraiser to award a $1,500 scholarship to help amputees or their immediate family pay for college or vocational school.
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